Outdoor activities, recreation are big in Bartlett
Known for its excellent quality of life and bounty of recreation, Bartlett offers a suburban lifestyle with a hometown feel.
Sports activities are big in Bartlett with leagues and organizations representing every imaginable sport, said Mary Olson, broker associate with RE/MAX Associates West. Evidence is the Bartlett Little League, the largest Little League in the nation managed under one board with more than 1,500 participants.
Forest preserves and parks provide a variety of recreation. The 120-acre Apple Orchard Community Park in the heart of the village features a golf course, aquatic center, skate park, tennis courts, sports fields, ice skating and a nature area.
For those who love the outdoors, the Bartlett Trail welcomes hikers, joggers and cyclists to its 14 miles of trails. "It's really nice how the bike path winds in and out of the forest preserves through town," said Shane Crawford, real estate broker with RE/MAX Central.
One of the finest golf courses in the area, the village-owned Bartlett Hills Golf Course, is a popular destination for golfers from miles around, while Villa Olivia Country Club features golf, skiing and banquet facilities.
Also, the Bartlett Community Center is a beautiful facility that features a health and fitness club, racquetball courts, aquatic center and dance studio.
Besides its abundance of recreation, the Bartlett Park District promotes cultural activities such as community theater and summer concerts in the park. Arts in Bartlett, the community arts council, presents a fine arts fair each year.
Bartlett real estate is as diverse as its population. The older and downtown sections of Bartlett feature homes modest in price and size, while larger, more expensive homes make up the newer subdivisions, most of which are on the west side of Route 59.
Bartlett is not priced like some more expensive areas, Crawford said. "You get so much more home for your money here.
"With a good meshing of affordable homes to estate homes for more than $1 million, people can buy their first home here and upgrade to their last home and still remain in Bartlett," he said.
Olson echoes Crawford's take on Bartlett's reasonable pricing and adds that homebuyers can purchase a single-family home from about $200,000. She said there is also a broad range of home ages with some more than 100 years old.
"There are a lot of good buys in real estate now," Olson said.
The Town Center located next to the Metra station is bringing new life to the village and drawing more and more people to the downtown area. The Town Center is home to 136 luxury condominiums, retail establishments and the new Blue Ribbon Restaurant.
Nearby, on West Bartlett Road at Railroad Avenue, is Banbury Fair. Housed in the historic Watermann House, the charming shop offers folk art painting classes, unique gifts, children's clothing and a women's clothing boutique. Adjacent to the shop is an antique barn and a petting zoo. In the summer, kids can be found hanging out with the bunnies and mountain goats.
Other shopping includes retail spots lining Route 59, Stearns Road and Army Trail Road. A Sonic drive-in eatery with carhop and drive-through service plans to set up shop at Route 59 and Stearns Road. "You don't have to go far for anything," Crawford said.
For other shopping, Bartlett's central location places it convenient to Stratford and Charlestown malls and within easy reach of expressways including the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway for a quick trip to Woodfield Shopping Center.
Easy access to Route 59 and I-90 is a plus for the Brewster Creek Business Park, a modern industrial park with land sites from two to 50-plus acres located on Western Stearns Road. The park is home to more than 55 businesses and continues to grow with ongoing construction.
A unique attraction in Bartlett is its BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir on Route 59. The large temple, or mandir, is a masterpiece of exotic design and workmanship. The building was constructed in only 16 months with more than 1,700 volunteers. The complex attracts visitors of all faiths.